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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 28, 2001

Sri Lankan Tamil Rebel Leader Offers Peace Talks With Government

Sri Lankan separatist Tamil Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran on Tuesday offered to end the country's long-running ethnic war through peaceful means but insisted that the ban on them must be lifted before possible talks with the government.


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Sri Lankan separatist Tamil Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran on Tuesday offered to end the country's long-running ethnic war through peaceful means but insisted that the ban on them must be lifted before possible talks with the government.

"We still hold a firm belief that this issue can be resolved by peaceful means. If there is genuine will and determination on the part of the Sinhalese leadership there is a possibility for peace and settlement," said Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in his annual Heroes Day speech before the December 5 parliamentary elections.

He appealed to the majority Sinhalese people to reject "racist forces committed to militarism and war" when they go to the polls next week and to ensure justice is done to the minority Tamils.

However, he reiterated his earlier demand that the LTTE would not hold any negotiations unless the government lifted a ban on the organization.

He also accused President Chandrika Kumaratunga's ruling People 's Alliance government of refusing to hold peace talks and rejecting a unilateral ceasefire the LTTE offered earlier this year.

The LTTE leader also condemned western nations for banning the LTTE, asking these countries to define terrorism clearly so it would not include groups that were involved in freedom struggles.

He claimed that the LTTE was not a terrorist organization and that they were seeking peace and dignity for Tamil people.

The LTTE rebels have been fighting against government forces since 1983 in the north and east of the country in an attempt to create an independent homeland for minority Tamils. The long- running ethnic war has killed more than 64,000 people.




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